The Second Bath!

Clearly I’ve lost any ability come up with interesting topics since I’m choosing the second bath as some grand affair to write about.

The kids loved their second bath just as much as they liked the first; not at all. Maybe if they learn to stop puking up every two minutes we wouldn’t have to bath them….ever.

Cousin Alexis /Aunt Keebs bought some really cute baby bathrobes. I think they are supposed to be turtles. Hell, I really don’t know what they are but the kids look so cute in them!

Xavier...Splish!

Stella!

I’d like to point out that Xavier wearing the blue bathrobe and Stella wearing the pink one has nothing to do with their gender. Whatever piece of clothing is closest gets put on.

Xavier has had the unfortunate luck of wearing a bib that says, “Daddy’s little Girl” or another one with a pink flower that says, “Pretty” many times. He pulls it off well so no one is complaining. And no, this will not give him gender identity issues in the future. Even if it does, surgery is always an option

-George.

Tummy Time!

So Xavier and Stella have started to get a little tummy time each day. They've each put on some weight so they need more exercise.

Anna's friend who is a pediatrician resident got us a cool tummy time toy. The baby gets laid down on his/her tummy and tries to lift there head and crawl.

Let's review what happened.

Stella, did well. You can see her lifting her and and squirming along.

Way to go Stella. Truly a natural.

Now we have Xavier. Oh boy. What's going on here?

Did you fall asleep?

Come on little buddy, lift up your head!


Geez, that was hard.

Hmm, Xavier didn't do so well. Can we upgrade him to a different model?

-George

All Night Feedings

Conversation between Anna and I at 5:00am this morning

George: Are you feeding Xavier

Anna: Yeah

George: When did he get up? I didn’t hear you get him.

Anna: I don’t know.

George: Wait, Xavier is still in his bed. Are you feeding Stella?

Anna: Yeah, Stella

George: Wait, Stella is still in her bed. Who are you feeding?

Anna: Oh, I guess no one. My breasts hurt so much I feel like I’m always feeding.

One Week Old

The kids were a week old on Thursday! No one died and Anna and I did not go insane.

I know this blog is lacking in it's witty banter that I'm so good at but I'm a little busy people. So for now, you'll have to be satisfied with pictures. Please don't sell these pictures to a child modeling agency. Only Anna and I are allowed to profit off our children.

Xavier after his first bath. He loves baths. Doesn't it show on his face?

Stella and Mommy

Stella posing for the camera.

The second day.

Ok, well the second day home was so much easier than the first day.

We got a game plan together and got a lot more sleep. Here is a picture to hold you over. Xavier and Stella this morning. They are so cute!!

The first night home.

Well, their first night at home is what we expected it to be. They didn't sleep at the same time so Anna and I barely slept. Maybe I slept a little more because I could sleep during breast feeding.

I do most changings and the supplement feedings via bottle.

Anna is still in pain and is not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds for another week. It is tough on her since she can't go up and down stairs quickly nor get out off a chair or bed fast.

Either way, we are happy parents.

We had our first pediatrician appointment today at 11:30am. It was a real choir just to get ready to leave by that time. The funniest thing was Anna and me trying to figure out how to use a strap-n-go stroller in the parking garage of the doctor's office. It just broadcast "NEW PARENTS" to everyone parking their cars.

Here's some more pics.

Anna holding Xavier before leaving the hospital.

Anna's parents meeting there new grand kids!

One more thing. Xavier is pronounced "Zavier" NOT "X-Zavier" we've encountered about a 50/50 split of people calling him one or the other. This is not something we predicted. :-)

George

p.s.

People who read Anna's blog. She said she is too tired to update it for now.

We're back home. April 7, 2008

They finally let us out of the hospital. Our room was really nice with wrap-around windows and a view of downtown and a small view of the lake. But, we both wanted to get home.

We got home about 1:30pm and got all the things unpacked. We had tons of gifts from family and friends to greet us. The dogs, Bella and Roxie were really curious. Roxie wouldn't stop licking the top of Stella's head.

Here's a few pictures for you'll.



Stella sleeping on her hand.




Xavier sleeping with his hands in the air.


Take Care,
George

All Going Well

Hey there loyal readers.
We're still at the hospital and should be here until Monday.
Anna's family has left and my parents are still in town.

The kids were pretty active during the night. Stella is a good eater. She latches on, sucks, finishes, poos and goes to bed.

Xavier kinda latches on, falls asleep, wakes up crying, sucks a few times then looks around the room and then won't go to sleep unless he's held. He is such a baby!

Hopefully they'll be talking soon. That happens on the third day right? I didn't read any of those parenting books.

George

Welcome (Thursday April 3rd, 2008)

Please welcome Stella Izabel Costakis weighing 5 lbs 13 oz born Thursday April 3rd, 2008 at 9:01pm and Xavier Stanislaw Costakis wieghing 6 lbs 5 oz born a few minutes later.

Xavier left and Stella right after they were born.

Dad right after delivery. I'm still in my surgery scrubs.

A very tired but happy new mom. She looks great!

Babies have Arrived!

Anna stop progressing so we had to go forward with a C-Section.
It was very difficult for Anna because she had been through a lot but all is well.

We have a healthy baby boy Xavier at 6 pounds 5 ounces and Stella weighing in at 5 pounds 13 ounce!!!

Pictures to following.

George

8:00pm and still waiting!

Hey Dudes.

I'm sure a few of you out there are loving this play by play.
Anna is moving along just fine but not fast enough for her. She just wants this too be over.

Girl baby has moved way down and Anna is 7 centimeters dilated.
The heart rate of mom and babies is great.

We've been here almost 24 hours!!
Stay strong people.
George

At the Hospital Update

Ok, a quick update!

It is 4:00pm and Anna is 6 centimeters dilated with regular contractions. Anna hits the pain med button like she's on Jeopordy.

Girl baby's head is creeping lower and the OB estimates 3 more hours until Anna is 10 centimeters and is officially ready to go.

My mother in-law and sister in-law are here with me.
Our nurse isn't very exciting and Anna got caught talking about her while she was still in the room...ooops! BUSTED.

I'm going to get a little rest now then pound some coffee.
Send some mental energy this way for healthy kids that are good dancers.

George

Time to go!

Ok, so we're headed to the hospital in an hour so I'm signing off.
Here's some last minute pictures.

Anna really wanted a picture of our hands making a heart on her belly. I was a good sport about it.

We are both a little concerned about Roxie's attachment issues. She has a habit of pushing herself up onto Anna's pregnant belly to sleep.

Catch ya' later people.
George

38 weeks....argh....

Hi internet. It’s been another day with no babies.

We had our 38 weeks ultra sound Monday morning and everything looks peachy; except for Anna’s feet. Picture someone who’s been punched in the eye and its all swollen except the swollen part is on Anna’s feet. That’s how they look.

The cervix is still closed and if things stay that way were going forward with the dilation procedure Wednesday.

A breif recap: the plan is to still check-in to the hospital Wednesday at 9:30pm, start the procedure at 10:30pm. The OB warned us that we may go all night, through Thursday into early Friday. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that and back then there was loud music and strobe lights so I’m packing my iPod and some glow sticks.

Anna has one last ditch effort today at 3:30pm. She's going to see the acupuncturist that helped with our infertility to see if he can trigger labor. Anna's heard of women who've had their water break on the acupunture table!! OH-MY-GOD

George